American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Big lacy flower heads in summer give way to purple-black berries for both birds and your kitchen.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
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- American Beautyberry
Pink (then purple fruit)
Shrub
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Unreal clusters of metallic-purple berries hug the stems in fall and feed dozens of bird species.
the Southeastthe South-Central regionthe Mid-Atlantic
Growing American Beautyberry
The electric-violet fruit is one of the South's great autumn sights. Cut to the ground in late winter for the biggest berry display. It’s deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, showy, and easy to grow.
Where it grows
American Beautyberry is native to the Southeast. In the wild you’ll find it across Alabama · Arkansas · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maryland · Mississippi · Missouri and 11 more states. Always confirm it suits your specific county with your state native plant society before planting.
Regional Garden shows American Beautyberry on 21 state pages.
Good for
Sourcing
Where to buy American Beautyberry
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.
Plant it with
Companions & kin.
Natives that share American Beautyberry’s range and conditions.
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
A bulletproof hedge shrub with white spring flowers, blue fall berries, and burgundy autumn leaves.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Spherical white 'pincushion' flowers over standing water, swarmed by butterflies and bees.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
A low, spreading shrub that blankets dry banks and blazes scarlet and orange in fall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr